ANT10 Howell and Marre

To kin a tansnationally adopted child in Norway and Spain: the achievement of resemblances and belonging: Howell and Marre

Summary

Focus on adoptive parents of children from the Third World and Eastern Europe.

Kinning Process

Resemblances of body and character > symbolising bodies

Adoption rates are extremely high and transnational adoption rates are likely to increase.

Mized focus on kinning their child and ensuring resemblances between themselves and the child. Alternatively, in some circumstances they focus on emphasising the difference in background, culture and bilogy.

Norway and Spain have similar values on transnational adoption, yet thier motives are very different.

Norway: involuntary childlessness and driving force for adoption is to become a "norm,al family"

Spain: undertaken by people who alreayd have children but for whaever reason don't want to do it "naturally." One might assume that this is therefore a less emotional process, seeing as they alreayd have children. But no. In both countries, parents form an immediate bond within a discourse of fate.

Abortion was legalised and contraception was made available to unmarried young people. stigma attached to unwed motherhood disappeared and support was given to single mothers.

women pursued careers but still felt that the experince of motherhood was vital.

No child is given up for adoption so to adopt means to adopt from abroad.

Only married couples are considered: neither cohabiting or homosexuals. Single women may in some circumstances.

Can trace biological parents on reaching maturity if desired.

Spanish family life and family values

Less women working, conditions asnd wages are unequal. High youth unemployemtn means young people stay at home with their parents and do not marry until later - fertility on the decline. Children seen as incompatible with their careers.

single women can choose to use NRTs, but married women need permission from their husbands.

Single people and homosexual couples may also adopt.

Donor identity is not shared.

Parental attitudes to the reality of a kin relationship

Strong idea of fate and meant to be - no other child would have worked as well. Norwegian couples have been preparing themselves for a long time for becoming parents…